Adjustable lamp bracket



' Oct. 20,1925. 1.557.699

s. P. HULL ADJUSTABLE LAMP BRACKET Filed July 1. 1924 2 Sheets-$11691; 1

I N VEN TOR.

S. P. HULL ADJUSTABLE LAMP BRACKET F'iled July 1, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 20,1 2 1.557.699

Hi mu Patented Oct. 20, 1925.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL r. HULL, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE LAMP BRACKET.

' Application filed. July 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, SAMUE P; H LL, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York in the county of New York and State of blew York, have invented certain new and useful Adjustable Lamp Brackets,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lamp supporting bracket and to a system for adjusting a lamp filament with reference to the focal centre of a lens. More particularly the invention relates to a lamp housing for use on railway signal lamps and the like, in which a supporting bracket is adjustably positioned with relation to a fixed lens in combination with a base bracket supporting the lamp bulb. The base bracket is secured to the supporting bracket by a snap fastener. The bulb is adjustably positioned in the base bracket on a testing stand and firmly. secured in the adjusted position so that in practice, a bulb with its base canbe quickly and easily installed and does not re- ,quire adjustment after installation. These 25 and other objects of the invention and the details of construction will be more particularly understood from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig. 1,-is a plan view of a form of testing stand including a supporting bracket that may be used with my invention, Fig. 2 is an elevation corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a railway signal lamp showing my invention in place, Fig. 4 is a crosssection of the supporting bracket, Fig. 5 shows the method of latching the base bracket and supporting bracket together, Fig. 6 is an elevation of the base bracket, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the base bracket, Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of this bracket and Fig. 9 is a detail of the latch. This invention is an improvement on my application, SerialNo. 630,665,,filed I April 7, 1923.

. The introduction of the. concentrated fila-- 1924. Serial No. 723,523.

the regular signal system. This type of lam has its filament concentrated into a sma 1 point and inorderto obtain satisfactory results this point must be located with precision in the focal centre of the lens. The purpose of the present invention is to secure. this result with a micrometer adjustment in a simple and effective manner that is well adapted to the'con'ditions under which the invention is. used.

In the ordinary process of manufacturing lamp bulbs, the filament itself'is'not located with anyfixed relation .to' thebase of the lamp so that its distance from the" base varies and its] angular position with reference to the dowels of the base varies; the bulb must,l therefore, be, adjustable independently of the .base attachments with which it isprovidedl For this purpose the bulb isprovided with a base bracket which clamps the socket in any position. This "bracket is adjustable withrelation to a fixed care of every irregularity in the location of j v the lens.

When the supporting bracket is applied to the lamp housing it is adjusted with a standard lamp .bulb to the position which suits the lens and is firmly secured in this position, no further adjustment being necessary unless the lens is replaced. The lamp bulb is adjusted on its base bracket on a testing stand until the filament is correctly positioned and then it' is tightly clamped to the bracket and cannot be removed. The base bracket is secured to any'supporting bracket by a threepoint engagement secured by a spring latch and is so arranged that the engaging parts will always find the same position; This combination makes the bulb with its base bracket readily detachable, enables the filament to be adjusted in the shop and avoids all adjustments in the field which could'only be performed with difliculty. The rapidity with which a bulb may be replaced insures an uninterrupted service.

In the drawings, 11 is the base of a testing stand having a perpendicular side 12 supporting the lens 13 and another perpendicular side 14, at right angles to 12 sup porting the lens 15. Opposite the lens 13 is the marker 16 and opposite the lens is the marker 17. The lamp bulb 20 has the filament 21 adjustably positioned in -the focal plane of lenses 13 and 15 by means hereafter to be described.

The supporting bracket 22, also called the primary bracket, comprises a cast frame as indicated in. Fig. 4 supporting a block of insulating material 32. "This frame is secured to the lamp housing or stand by the screws 23 and 24 and is spaced therefrom by the studs 25 and 26. It will be noted that when the screws are adjusted the bracket turns upon the studs 25 and 26 as pivots, and when thestuds areadjusted, the bracket turns upon the screws as pivots. This bracket can thus be tilted in two planes at right angles to each other with a corresponding movement of the filament 21 behind the lenses 13 and 15.

Secured to the insulating block 32 are a pair of upstanding plates27 and 28. A turned over lug in 27 forms the basefor the binding post 30 to which one wire of the circuit is connected and a similarjlug in 28 forms the base for binding post 31 to which the other wire of the circuit is connected. When adjusted in position the bracket :22 and the wir connections remainfixe'd and do not require further attention. Located between the plates .27 and 28 is the latching spring .29 which is "looped throughan opening in'32 at 34 and is secured by the rivet 33.

I The base bracket, also called the secondary bracket, is-shown in Figs. t6, 7 and 8. This bracket supports the lamp bulb, is circular in formation and corresponds approximately in-size to the diameter of the bulb. It is light and compact and readily handled with the bulb as a unit. It comprises .a lower disc 48 and an upper disc 43 adjustably positioned relative to the lower disc. These discs are held together by the screws 49 and and are spaced apart by the studs 51' and .52. As the screws are adjusted the upper disc turn-s about the studs as .a pivot and as ,the studs are adjusted it turns about the screws as a pivot which correspondingly positions the lamp bulb.

The secondary bracket is secured in position and latchedover the primary bracket by the arrangementshown in Fig. 5. The engaging members 41 and 42 :are placed on the underside of disc 48 as shown. lVIember 41 is secured by a rivet 54 and by the end of screw 50 which provides a circuit from .58 to this member,.and member 42 15 secured by rivet 53 and the end of screw 49 which provides a circuit from to this member. Member 42 is provided with a projecting lug 45 and member 41 is provided with a diametrically opposite lug 44 which, it will be observed is provided with a V notch. The opposite end of member 41* is turned down- .wards midway between the projecting lugs 44 and 45 in the form shown at 46 and provided with a notch 47 which is engaged by the-latch spring 29 when thebraoket is in position as indicated in Fig. 9. a

It will be noted that the upstanding plate 27, Fig. 4 is, provided with an inclined edge 35 sloping towards the latch spring 29 and terminating in a V shaped jaw 36 at the opposite end. The upstanding plate 2.8 is formed in a similar manner. 7 When the brackets are asembled as shown in Fig. :5 the jaws of the upstanding plates engage the projecting lugs 44 and '45 and spring 29 engages the notch 47 so that the 'two brackets are secured together against movement by a 7 three point connection. The j aw 36 pmvents relative vertical movement and the jaw 44 prevents relative lateral movement while the spring 29 holds the parts in engagement under tension. It will be noted that should the screws 49 or 50 work loose in the members .42 or 41 the tension on spring 29 will turn these members on their rivets until they engage the screws thus insuring a reliable contact.

"When placing a secondary bracket in po- :sition on the primary bracket the lugs .44 and 45 are placed upon the inclines of the upstanding plates while the lamp bulb is tilted forward. In this position "the lugs are slid into the jaws and the bulb is moved to the vertical while the end of latch spring 29 rides on the curve of 46 until it latches in 4 7.

The secondary bracket is removed by tilting it forward until 29 is un'latc'hed when it may be lifted out. of position. a This operation can be performed with facility in difficult locations such as the top of a signal mast where the operator has only one hand available for the work.

The lamp bulb is secured to the secondary bracket by means of the casting 57 which is provided with afiange 58 which isscrewed to the upper disc 43. As shown in Fig. '7 "this casting is curved to the radius of the bulb base 61 and is provided with a clamping strap 64 which is tightened by screw 65.

Thebu'lb brace 61 is provided with engaging pins 62 according to the usual manufacture.

the pinsit would be a simple matter to replace one lamp bulb by another but when a bulb is securely clamped itcannot be replaced without releasing the clamp and thus indicating that its a justment has been changed. Lamp bulbs with screw socket attachments can, of course, be substituted for the bayonettype shown.

The central conductor of the bulb engages the turned over end 56 of the contact plate or spring 55 which by screw 49 makes circuit with member 42. The ends of the contact plate 55 are turned over the edge of disc 43 as indicated at 59 to prevent this plate from shifting. The tension on contact 56 is regu-' lated by bending 56 with the point of a screw driver.

Fig. 3 shows a standard type of railway signal lantern with this invention in place. The housing is indicated by 7 2 with a cover 71 removable as shown. The lens 73 pro j ects the light from bulb 20and is adjusted on its support to project the light on the track as desired.

In the application of this invention, the primary bracket 22 is located with a gage or template in a fixed position with reference to lenses 13 and 15. A secondary bracket with a bulb is then placed on the primary bracket and the discs 43 and 48 are adjusted relative to each other until the light through 13 is in focus with the mark or cross hairs a; on 16 and until the light from 15 registers with the mark I) on 17. When the final adjustment is made the bulb is firmly clamped in place. In this manner all bulbs are adjusted until the filament has a fixed relation to the base bracket. The testing stand may be secured against a wall, the board 16 being on the ceiling and the board 17 on another wall at right angles to the wall which holds the stand or other arrangements may be used to hold these parts in fixed relation.

The primary bracket is positioned in the lamp housing by means of a gag or template or by means of a bulb which has been properly adjusted. When this bracket is correctly positioned with relation to the lens it is tightly secured in place, no further adjustment being necessary. All bulbs that have been adjusted on the testing stand can be applied in any lamp housing and will al-- ways be in focus without any adjustment in the field.

The lamp housing shown in Fig. 3 has a cover which opens at the top and on the side away from the lens, this exposes the bulb from the top and side. In the older form of lantern designed primarily for an oil fount the opening is at the side away from the lens, this invention, however, is equally adapted for use in lanterns of this type since adjustment in the lantern itself is not necessary.

comprising a primary bracket adjusta sitioned and a secondary bracket ,with

. adjustably Having thus described my' i nvention, I claim:

1. A compound bracket-for a lamp bulb I socket'having means for engaging said primary bracket, said lamp-bulb secured insaid socket, said socket being adjustabl secured to said secondary bracket with re erence to said engaging means and springcontrolled means for latching said brackets together.

2. A compound bracket for a lamp bulb comprising a primary bracket adjustably positioned, a pair of notched plates upstanding from said primary bracket, a secondary bracket adjustably supporting a lamp bulb, a pair of members projecting from said secondary bracket arranged to engage the notches in said plates and a spring controlled latch holding said parts in engagement.

3. A compound bracket for a lamp bulb comprising a primary bracket adjustably positioned, a pair of plates upstanding from said primary bracket, a secondary bracket supporting said lamp bulb, means on said secondary bracket for engaging said plates, means for adjusting said brackets horizontally and vertically with precision and means for latching said brackets together.

4. A lamp bulb supporting means comprising a housing with a lens, a primary bracket adjustably positioned in said housing with reference to said lens, a secondary bracket in which the lamp bulb having a filament is adjustably positioned, attaching means for securin said secondary bracket to said primary racket, said secondary bracket being adjustably supported by said attaching means and means for positioning said brackets horizontally and vertically relative to said housing.

5. A support fora lamp bulb comprising a primary bracket and a secondary bracket supporting the lamp bulb, a flat member having a projecting lug with a notch therein secured to the secondary bracket, a latch for engaging said notch and means for adjustably positioning said'lamp relative to said flat member.

6. A support for a lamp bulb comprising a primary bracket and a secondary bracket supporting the lamp bulb and secured to the primary bracket, attaching means for the secondary bracket comprising a fiat projecting lug with a notch in its edge, and a fixed spring engaging said edge and latching in the notch.

7. In a detachable bracket for supporting a lamp bulb, the combination of a pair of fixed upstanding plates having inclined -curinjg said bracketto said plates and means for adjustably positioning said bulb re1ative to said attaching member.

8, In a detachable bracket for supperting .a lamp bulb, the combination of a pair of fixed upstanding plates, a bracket with an attaching member having lugs for engaging said plates, a V shaped inctch formed n one memes of said lugs, a spring for holding said lugs and plates in engagement and means for se- 10 .curing said bulb to said bracket.

SAMUEL PQHULL. 

